The first thing I did was to find out

Chapter 387 Promise (VII)

When Wang Gensheng and Xu Nuo ran breathlessly to the entrance of the state-owned hotel, everyone was confused.

Qin Huai could tell that it was 30% tiredness + 40% fragrance + 40% pure confusion. The pure confusion came from the explosive news he just heard. Wang Gensheng had not digested it even after running all the way.

His current expression, appearance and state really look like he has just been defrauded by Xu.

Xu Nuo asked Wang Gensheng to line up at the door. They came early and would definitely be able to grab the steamed buns. There were only about thirty or forty people in front of them. He then ran away and went straight into the state-owned restaurant.

Qin Huai tried to keep up and found that the distance was enough. His range of movement this time was quite wide. Not only could he follow into the state-owned restaurant, he could also follow Xu Nuo all the way to the kitchen door of the state-owned restaurant.

The slightly plump waitress at the entrance of the state-owned restaurant frowned when someone came in. She was about to scold and chase him away. It seemed that the person made a promise before she relaxed her brows and asked, "Xiao Xu, why are you here so early today? Master Jing is still steaming buns."

Xu Nuo grinned and said, "I came here early on purpose. A new college student joined our factory today, and my dad asked me to bring him to the state-owned restaurant for a good meal."

The waitress was surprised: "The new college students are so precious this time! You are lucky today. We just received two old hens from the countryside. The big bluefish yesterday seemed to be..."

Xu Nuo waved his hands repeatedly: "It's not that good, not that good, just eat some braised pork. Master Jing is in the kitchen, right? Sister Ye, do you mind if I stand at the kitchen door and talk to Master Jing?"

Sister Ye rolled her eyes at Xu Nuo in annoyance and said, "What's the point of me caring? People are saying that you are a temporary worker in our state-owned hotel. You are a temporary worker now, so you can go wherever you want."

Then Sister Ye stood at the entrance of the state-owned restaurant with her hands on her hips, directing the customers waiting in line to buy steamed buns outside: "Stop making noise, what are you clamoring for? Can these steamed buns grow wings and fly away in the steamer?"

"It's not time yet, line up properly. The one behind you, don't cut in line. I'm talking to you! If you cut in line, don't buy anything today. If you cut in line when buying steamed buns, if I let you in to eat, won't we start a fight in our state-owned restaurant?"

The originally noisy queueing crowd suddenly quieted down. Wang Gensheng, who was already very quiet in the queue, was so scared that he shrank his neck and continued to queue quietly.

Qin Huai was slightly shocked at the status of waiters in state-owned restaurants in that era, and followed Xu Nuo into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Master Jing was drinking tea, and the fermented glutinous rice steamed buns had not yet come out of the pot. Huang Shengli and Zheng Da were standing by the steamer, ready at all times.

Seeing Xu Nuo coming, Master Jing smiled, and his originally hideous scarred face looked a little kinder: "Why did you come so early today?"

Xu Nuo repeated what he had just said to the waiter, took out the bills that Director Xu had given him in the afternoon from his pocket, counted them, and put them all on the table.

"I heard that Section Chief Li from the Finance Department has booked a welcoming banquet at your place." Xu Nuo asked.

"What kind of welcoming banquet is this? They just used your textile factory's name to force Sister Ye to reserve a table for him in the lobby. When asked what he wanted to order, he hesitated and finally ordered a dish of stir-fried shredded vegetables because Sister Ye got angry," Zheng Da complained.

Master Jing glared at Zheng Da and signaled him not to respond without authorization.

Xu Nuo nodded but didn't continue what Zheng Da said. He would complain about Section Chief Li in front of Wang Gensheng, but would never say a word in front of Zheng Da.

"You've already ordered a dish of stir-fried shredded vegetables, right? Then add a dish of braised pork and a dish of fried fish. We should have fish today, right, Master Jing? The fish you fried is so delicious. It would be even better if you put more oil in it."

Master Jing smiled and said, "Of course, we have some fresh fish that were just delivered this morning. Don't worry, I will add enough oil for you to fry them until both sides are golden brown and crispy."

"There is pork belly, and it seems there are also some quail eggs. I will make a dish of pork belly with quail eggs. It will be your favorite sweet and salty taste. The quail eggs will be made into tiger skin and fried in a pan first."

Xu Nuo chuckled and said, "How can I be so embarrassed? This is a welcoming banquet for college students. How can you make it taste the way I like?"

Master Jing shook his head helplessly, "I don't know you yet. Your lunch box is in the cupboard. Don't worry, I'll call you in to eat when the fish is fried. I'll put the braised pork and quail eggs in the lunch box, and the stuffed tofu you mentioned yesterday won't be missing. There are also four steamed buns with fermented glutinous rice wine, two for you and one for your parents."

"Don't put your lunch box in the cabinet next time. At noon today, Zheng Da thought your lunch box was his and almost used it."

Zheng Da pretended that the steamed buns were about to be taken out of the pot, and stared at the steamer. Xu Nuo didn't care: "If you use it, just use it. If you accidentally use it, just wash it clean."

"Master Jing, you said last time that the season for crab roe is too short. It's a waste to spend so much money on the recipe for double crab buns but only make them a few months a year. I want to use crab roe sauce to make double crab buns. I have some ideas about this, too. I..."

"Try this." The kitchen was a little too noisy. Master Jing turned around to get something and didn't hear Xu Nuo's words at all.

Master Jing was holding a bowl of lotus root starch meatballs.

Xu Nuo was stunned when he saw the lotus root powder balls, and it took him a few seconds to react: "This is... osmanthus lotus root powder balls?"

"It's filled with sugar. Yesterday, my uncle Zheng Da gave me a big bag of lotus root powder. It's handmade and of great quality. I think it's perfect for making lotus root powder balls. I also happened to have some dried osmanthus flowers at home, so I made osmanthus lotus root powder balls."

"Taste it."

Xu Nuo took the bowl without any hesitation, scooped up a lotus root powder ball and put it into his mouth.

The lotus root powder balls in the bowl are translucent, but the size is irregular, and you can tell at a glance that they are very chewy. The lotus root powder balls are filled with white sugar, and honey is probably added to the water used to cook the lotus root powder balls. They look a little yellowish and a little sticky, more like soup.

Xu Nuo ate several of them in a row, and his cheeks were bulging from chewing them.

"Master Jing, my friend is still queuing outside. I want him to try the remaining food. Can I ask him to come in to eat?" Xu Nuo asked.

"Of course, this team has to... I'll leave 4 for you."

"I know. The rules cannot be broken. I definitely understand this principle." After saying that, Xu Nuo put down the bowl and ran out. He pulled Wang Gensheng out of the queue, who was standing obediently in the queue and dared not say a word, and dragged him all the way into the state-owned restaurant in front of his horrified eyes.

Wang Gensheng was still confused.

As a newcomer who has just joined the company and has not yet officially started working, what happened today was a bit too much information for him.

Xu Nuo handed the lotus root powder meatballs to Wang Gensheng: "Don't queue up for the fermented glutinous rice steamed buns today. You can eat fermented glutinous rice steamed buns at any time. You can only eat these lotus root powder meatballs today. We will have a big dinner in the evening after that. If you eat the fermented glutinous rice steamed buns, you won't be able to eat dinner."

Wang Gensheng didn't say anything, he just picked up the bowl and started eating.

Qin Huai felt that Wang Gensheng was now a bit like a hostage kidnapped by robbers. In order to save his life, he had to do whatever the robbers told him to do.

Wang Gensheng took the first bite in a daze, and then became even more confused.

Confused but also a little sober.

His eyes were filled with confusion and shock, and his face was filled with the wonder that there was such delicious food in the world. What on earth was this thing, a delicacy?
Xu Nuo smiled smugly.

Wang Gensheng was stunned again when he saw Xu Nuo's smile.

He felt that he had been confused, dazed and stunned more times today than in the previous twenty years combined.

"So this is a sugar-coated bullet." Wang Gensheng murmured.

Qin Huai left the memory.

(End of this chapter)